Shoe wrap and method for manufacturing shoe

ABSTRACT

A shoe wrap for a shoe and a method for manufacturing a shoe are disclosed. The shoe wrap includes an outsole portion having a toe portion disposed at an anterior end of the outsole portion, a toe rand portion at least partially connected to the outsole portion at a lateral side of the outsole portion and extending in an anterior direction beyond the toe portion of the outsole portion, a medial portion connected to a medial side of the outsole portion, and a heel rand portion connected to a heel portion of the outsole portion. The method includes disposing a main body on an outsole portion of the shoe wrap, folding at least a heel rand portion of the shoe wrap up a back of the main body, and folding a toe rand portion of the shoe wrap about a toe box of the main body.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates to an article of footwear and, moreparticularly, a shoe wrap for an article of footwear to protectmaterials of an upper of the article of footwear as well as a footdisposed in the article of footwear.

Discussion of the Background

Articles of footwear, commonly referred to as shoes, have becomeincreasingly specialized for various intended uses. FIG. 1 illustrates amethod of manufacturing a shoe according to the related art. As shown inFIG. 1, a shoe includes an upper 10 and an outsole 20 attached to eachother to define the general shape of the shoe. The shoe may be, forexample, designed to be worn by a user engaged in climbing sports, suchas indoor climbing, bouldering, or rock climbing. The upper 10 may be afully or almost fully-constructed upper shoe body including a tongue, aninsole, a midsole, laces, eyelets, buckles, etc. The outsole 20 may bean integrated outsole including an outsole, a rand, a side wall, a heelcup, and a tread pattern formed in a final shape of the outsole 20. Forexample, the outsole 20, as shown in FIG. 1, is shaped as the outsole 20will be shaped upon completion of the shoe. In other words, the shape ofthe outsole 20 is not changed during construction of the shoe. Accordingto the related art, the integrated outsole 20 is disposed about a lowerportion of the constructed upper 10 and adhered to and/or stitched tothe constructed upper 10 to complete manufacture of the shoe. Often,disposing the outsole 20 about the constructed upper 10, or vice versa,is difficult to perform in general and difficult to perform well. Inhigh performance shoes, like those used for climbing, the rand, sidewall, and heel cup are used to grip edges of rocks while the climbertraverses a rock face. In shoes manufactured according to the relatedart, adherence of the outsole 20 to the upper 10 often fails due to thedemands of climbing on the shoe as well as the poor fit of the outsole20 to the upper 10. As such, it is necessary to increase durability ofthe shoe by improving the adherence between the upper 10 and the outsole20.

FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a shoe having a shoewrap according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 12, a shoe wrap 30includes an outsole portion 33 and a rand portion 35. The shoe wrap 30includes at least two pieces, the outsole portion 33 and the randportion 35, which are separately adhered to an upper 10. The upper 10may be a fully or almost fully-constructed upper shoe body including atongue, an insole, a midsole, laces, eyelets, buckles, etc. During theconstruction of the shoe as shown in FIG. 12, separate operations arerequired to place and/or adhere the outsole portion 33 and the randportion 35 to the upper 10. When multiple pieces of the shoe wrap 30 areapplied to the upper 10, manufacturing time and costs are high becauseeach operation requires both time and money. Further, when placing eachpiece of the shoe wrap 30, precision is low and quality manufacturing isdifficult to maintain because each piece is individually placed andapplied to the upper 10. The rand portion 35 includes an overlap portion37 in which one portion of the rand portion 35 overlaps another portionof the rand portion 35. When multiple pieces of the shoe wrap 30 areapplied to the upper 10, portions of overlap similar to overlap portion37 are difficult to avoid and are difficult to secure to the upper 10,resulting in decreased quality of manufacture. As such, increasedquality of manufacture at decreased time and cost is desirable.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a shoe wrap and amethod of manufacturing a shoe that allow for easier joining of a mainbody of a shoe with the sole of the shoe as well as improved comfort,fit, and durability of the shoe. Further, decreased manufacturing timeand cost may be achieved.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a shoe wrap for ashoe, the shoe wrap including an outsole portion having a toe portiondisposed at an anterior end of the outsole portion, a toe rand portionat least partially connected to the outsole portion at a lateral side ofthe outsole portion, the toe rand portion extending in an anteriordirection beyond the toe portion of the outsole portion, a medialportion connected to a medial side of the outsole portion, and a heelrand portion connected to a heel portion of the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide a slingrand portion connected to the heel rand portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that thesling rand portion extends farther in medial and lateral directions thanthe heel rand portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that theheel rand portion extends farther in medial and lateral directions thanthe sling rand portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that adistal end of the toe rand portion extends farther in a lateraldirection beyond the extent to which other portions of the toe randportion extend in the lateral direction.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide a foldingline disposed about a periphery of the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that atleast one of the outsole, the toe rand portion, the medial portion, andthe heel rand portion comprises a bevel.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide a notchdisposed between an anterior end of the medial portion and the toeportion of the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that theheel rand portion has a trapezoidal shape having a long base disposedaway from the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that eachof the heel rand portion and the sling rand portion has a trapezoidalshape having a long base disposed away from the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that eachof the heel rand portion and the sling rand portion has trapezoidalshape having a long base disposed toward the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide a shoecomprising the shoe wrap.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method ofmanufacturing a shoe, the method including disposing a main body on anoutsole portion of a shoe wrap, the main body comprising at least anupper, folding at least a heel rand portion of the shoe wrap up a backof the main body, and folding a toe rand portion of the shoe wrap abouta toe box of the main body.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide foldinglateral and medial portions of the heel rand portion along lateral andmedial sides of the main body, respectively.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that thefolding of the toe rand portion further comprises folding the toe randportion up a lateral side of the main body to cover at least a portionof the lateral portion of the heel rand portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that thefolding at least the heel rand portion further comprises folding a slingrand portion of the shoe wrap up the back of the main body, and themethod further comprises folding lateral and medial portion of the slingrand portion along lateral and medial sides of the main body.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide folding amedial portion of the shoe wrap up a medial side of the main body.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that thefolding the medial portion of the shoe wrap occurs before the foldingthe toe rand portion of the shoe wrap such that the toe rand portion ofthe shoe wrap at least partially covers a portion of the medial portionof the shoe wrap.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a method of manufacturing a shoe according to therelated art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a shoe having a shoe wrap according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a shoe having a shoe wrap according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5. is a bottom view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for manufacturing a shoe according toaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method for manufacturing a shoe according toaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method for manufacturing a shoe according toaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a shoe having a shoewrap according to the related art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsare shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplaryembodiments set forth therein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art.In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like elements. Theshape, size and regions, and the like, of the drawing may be exaggeratedfor clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. does not denotea limitation of quantity, but rather denotes the presence of at leastone of the referenced item. The use of the terms “first,” “second,” andthe like does not imply any particular order, but they are included toidentify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms first,second, etc. does not denote any order or importance, but rather theterms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element fromanother. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, regions,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will notbe interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expresslyso defined herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an article of footwear having a shoe wrap accordingto aspects of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 illustrates a shoehaving a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure. Thearticle of footwear 200, herein referred to as a shoe 200, includes anupper 210, a tongue 220, at least one strap 230, at least one buckle240, a pull strap 250, and a shoe wrap 260.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shoe may be arranged to correspond to aright foot of a wearer. As such, FIG. 2 illustrates a lateral side of aright shoe to correspond to a right foot of a wearer while FIG. 3illustrates a medial side of the right shoe to correspond to the rightfoot of the wearer. Although only the right shoe is shown, aspects neednot be limited thereto such that aspects of the present disclosure maybe applied to a left shoe arranged to correspond to a left foot of awearer.

The upper 210 and the tongue 220 of the shoe 200 are connected to the todefine an opening through which a foot is inserted to wear the shoe 200.Closure mechanisms, for example, straps 230 and buckles 240 may beprovided to extend between portions of the upper 210 over the tongue 220to secure the shoe 200 to a foot. Additional or other closure mechanismsmay secure the shoe 200 to a foot, for example, laces, ratchets, hooks,and the like may be used. The pull strap 250 may be connected to theupper 210 at a portion of the opening to aid in placing the shoe 200 onthe foot of the wearer. One or more pull straps 250 may be included atlocations near the opening of the shoe 200 formed by the upper 210 andthe tongue 220. Although the opening of the shoe 100 is shown to beabout ankle height, aspects need not be limited thereto such that theopening may be lower or higher, for example, the shoe 200 may beprovided in as a high top style shoe.

The upper 210 may be a wrap upper and includes any material appropriatefor construction of a shoe upper and may include vents, padding, and thelike. For example, the upper 210 may include one or more of a natural orsynthetic leather, a rubber material, a polymeric material, a polymericmixture, a polymeric alloy, a laminate, a natural or synthetic textilematerial, a mesh material, or a combination thereof. The upper 210 mayinclude multiple pieces of material sewn, adhered, welded, or the liketogether.

The upper 210 may be combined with an insole (not shown) and/or amidsole (not shown) to construct a main body of the shoe 200. The mainbody of the shoe 200 is combined with the shoe wrap 260 to completeconstruction of the shoe 200.

The shoe wrap 260 includes a toe rand portion 261, a heel rand portion262, a sling rand portion 263, a medial portion 264, and an outsoleportion (not shown). The shoe wrap 260 may be made of at least one ofleather, rubber, polymer, and the like, and different portions of theshoe wrap 260 may be made of different materials to provide differentproperties for the shoe 200. The outsole portion extends under the upper210 and is the sole of the shoe 200. The toe rand portion 261 is atleast partially connected to the outsole portion and extends in ananterior direction from the connection with the outsole portion to wrapabout at least a portion of a toe box of the upper 210. The toe randportion 261 is connected to a lateral side of the outsole portion. Thetoe rand portion 261 may extend laterally from the outsole portion to befoldable up a lateral side of the upper 210 to protect the lateral sideof the upper 210 and the lateral side of the foot of the wearer from theheel to the toe of the shoe.

The toe rand portion 261 may have one of various shapes to protect thetoes of the wearer and increase durability of the shoe 200. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the toe rand portion 261 extends medially about the toebox and medially over the toe box of the upper 210 to protect the toesof a wearer and the materials of the upper 210 in the toe box region.However, aspects need not be limited thereto such that, for example, thetoe rand portion 261 may only extend medially about the front end, oranterior end, of the toe box of the upper 210 or the toe rand portion261 may extend to cover the entire toe box of the upper 210 of the shoe200.

The heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 of the shoewrap are at least partially connected to the outsole portion and extendin a posterior direction from the outsole portion to be foldable up theback of the upper 210 to form a heel cup of the shoe 200. The heel randportion 262 is disposed between the outsole portion and the sling randportion 263 and extends between the side portion of the toe rand 261 andthe upper 210. The sling rand portion 263 is disposed to cover at leasta portion of the heel rand portion 262 and is disposed to extend betweenthe side portion of the toe rand 261 and the upper 210. However, aspectsneed not be limited thereto such that the side of the toe rand portion261, the heel rand portion 262, and the sling rand portion 263 may befoldable and disposable in any order such that, for example, one or moreof the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 may bedisposed over the side of the toe rand portion 261 such that the side ofthe toe rand portion 261 is disposed between the upper 210 and the oneor more of the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263. Asanother example, the heel rand portion 262 may be disposed over at leasta portion of the sling rand portion 263 such that the sling rand portion263 is disposed between the upper 210 and at least a portion of the heelrand portion 262.

Each of the heel rand portion 262 and sling rand portion 263 may haveone of various shapes so as to provide protection and support for theupper 210 and the heel of the wearer of the shoe 200. One or more of theheel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 may be foldable anddisposable to extend forward from the back of the heel of the shoe 200down both lateral and medial sides of the upper 210 and under the heelarea of the upper 210 to be disposed between the outsole portion of theshoe wrap 260 and the insole or midsole of the main body of the shoe200. Such extension of the one or more of the heel rand portion 262 andthe sling rand portion 263 would provide additional support for heel ofthe upper 210 and the heel of the wearer by extending under the heel ofthe wearer when the shoe 200 is disposed on the foot of the wearer.

The sling rand portion 263 may extend from the heel rand portion 262 tothe top of the heel portion of the upper 210 and may be connected to orformed to include the pull strap 250. However, aspects need not belimited thereto such that the sling rand portion 263 need not extend tothe top of the heel portion of the upper 210. And, the sling randportion 263 may extend under a portion of the upper 210 as shown in FIG.3; however, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the sling randportion may remain disposed outside of the upper 210.

Although both the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263are described, aspects need not be limited thereto such that only one ofthe heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 may be includedor neither of the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263are included in the shoe wrap 260. Further, the heel rand portion 262and the sling rand portion 263 may be combined or subdivided to providefewer or more portions, for example, for more stable support or for morecustom shapes of the heel cup.

The medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 is at least partiallyconnected to the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 260. As shown in FIG.3, the medial portion 264 extends in a medial direction from the outsoleportion of the shoe wrap 260 to be foldable and disposable along amedial side of the upper 210 of the shoe 200 to provide protection andsupport for a medial side of the upper 210 and the medial side of a footdisposed in the shoe 200. The medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260may be foldable and disposable up the medial side of the upper 210 tosupport an arch of the shoe 200 and an arch of a foot disposed in theshoe 200. Further, the medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260, alongwith other portions of the shoe wrap 260, may be shaped to define and/orsupport the overall shape of the shoe 200. For example, the medialportion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 may be shaped to define and/or supportthe shoe 200 as a low tension, medium tension, or high tension climbingshoe.

The medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 may extend from the outsoleportion of the shoe wrap 260 up the medial side of the upper 210 of theshoe 200 to the at least one strap 230 and may be disposed over at leasta portion of the at least one strap 230 such that the at least a portionof the at least one strap is disposed between the upper 210 and themedial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260. Further, the medial portion 264of the shoe wrap 260 may be connected to or formed to include at least aportion of the at least one strap. For example, the medial portion 264of the shoe wrap 260 may extend up the medial side of the upper 210 tohold the buckle 230 for closing the shoe 200 with the other portion ofthe strap 230.

The medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 may extend in an anteriordirection toward the toe box of the shoe 200. The medial portion 264 mayextend between the upper 210 and at least a portion of the toe randportion 261. However, aspects need not be limited thereto such that themedial portion 264 may be disposed on the toe rand portion 261 such thatthe toe rand portion 261 is disposed between the upper 210 and themedial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260. Further, the medial portion 264and the toe rand portion 261 need not meet or overlap such that aportion of the upper 210 may be exposed therebetween to provide forflexibility of the shoe 200. The medial portion 264 and the toe randportion 261 may meet or not at a location of the upper 210 thatcorresponds to a location anterior to a ball of a foot disposed in theshoe 200. Such location may provide for flexibility of a toe portion ofthe shoe 200 while also providing stability for an arch portion of theshoe 200.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 5. is a bottom view of a shoe wrap according to aspectsof the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a shoe wrap 400includes a toe rand portion 401, a heel rand portion 402, a sling randportion 403, a medial portion 404, and an outsole portion 405. The shoewrap 400 is formed to correspond to a right shoe to correspond to aright foot of a wearer. Although only a shoe wrap for a right shoe isshown, aspects need not be limited thereto such that aspects of thepresent disclosure may be applied to a left shoe arranged to correspondto a left foot of a wearer.

The toe rand portion 401, similar to as described herein, is at leastpartially connected to the outsole portion 405 and extends in a lateraldirection from the outsole portion 405 as well as extends in an anteriordirection beyond a toe portion of the outsole 405. As shown in FIG. 4,the distal end of the toe rand portion 401 may extend in the lateraldirection beyond the extent to which other portions of the toe randportion 401 extend, for example, in the portion of the toe rand portion401 connected to the outsole portion 405, so as to provide an increasedarea of coverage of the toe box of the upper of the shoe when wrappedabout the toe box of the shoe as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The shape ofthe distal end of the toe rand portion 401 may be larger or smaller thanthat shown in FIG. 4 so as to provide more or less coverage of the toebox of the upper of the shoe as described herein. Further, a side of thedistal end of the toe rand portion 401 separate from but adjacent to thetoe portion of the outsole portion 405 has a shape to complement theshape of the toe portion of the outsole 405 so that such sides of thedistal end of the toe rand portion 401 may touch or be connected to thetoe portion of the outsole portion 405 to provide complete coverage ofthe corresponding portion of the toe box of the upper. And, the end ofthe distal end of the toe rand portion 401 may be shaped to complement aportion of the medial portion 404 of the shoe wrap 400 when the shoewrap 400 is wrapped about a main body of a shoe.

The heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 extend in aposterior direction from a heel portion of the outsole 405 as shown inFIG. 4. The heel rand portion 402 is connected to the heel portion ofthe outsole 405, and the sling rand portion 403 is connected to the heelrand portion 402. Further, each of the heel rand portion 402 and thesling rand portion 403 extend in lateral and medial directions, i.e., tothe outside and to the inside with respect to a foot. The sling randportion 403 may extend farther in the lateral and medial directions thanthe heel rand portion 402 such that, when the shoe wrap 400 is wrappedabout a main body of a shoe, the sling rand portion 403 may extend inthe anterior direction farther than the heel rand portion 402 extends inthe anterior direction. Taken together and individually, the heel randportion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 may be of a generaltrapezoidal shape having the long base disposed away from the outsoleportion 405. Although medial and lateral sides of the heel rand portion402 and the sling rand portion 403 may be generally be symmetric,aspects need not be limited thereto such that at least one of the medialand lateral side of at least one of the heel rand portion 402 and thesling rand portion 403 may have a different shape or length in themedial and/or lateral directions.

During construction of the shoe, the heel rand portion 402 and the slingrand portion 403 are folded or disposed up the back of a heel portion ofthe main body of the shoe, including the upper, and disposed alonglateral and medial sides of the main body of the shoe back toward theoutsole 405 so as to form a heel cup to protect and support the mainbody of the shoe and the heel of a foot disposed in the shoe. The shapesof each edge of the heel rand portion 402 may be complementary toadjacent portions of the shoe wrap 400 so that, when the shoe isconstructed to include the shoe wrap 400, the edges of the heel randportion 402 align with or overlap edges of the toe rand portion 401, themedial portion 404, and the sling rand portion 403. Similarly, theshapes of the edges of the sling rand portion 403 may be complementaryto adjacent portions of the shoe wrap 400 so that, when the shoe isconstructed to include the shoe wrap 400, the edges of the sling randportion 403 align with or overlap edges of the toe rand portion 401, themedial portion 404, and the heel rand portion 402.

For example, a lower edge of the heel rand 402, i.e., an edge adjacentto the heel portion of the outsole portion 405, may be curved away fromthe outsole portion 405 so that a good and comfortable fit of the heelcup may be achieved because extraneous material is not present. Further,an upper edge of the heel rand 402, i.e., an edge adjacent to the slingrand portion 403, and a lower edge of the sling rand portion 403, i.e.,an edge adjacent to the heel rand portion 402, may also be complementaryand have slight curves toward the outsole portion 405 with the curvatureof the heel rand portion 402 being slightly greater than the curvatureof the sling rand portion 403 so as to provide a good and comfortablefit of the heel cup in a fully constructed shoe according to aspects ofthe present disclosure. And, the upper edge of the sling rand portion403, i.e., an edge of the sling rand portion 403 disposed away from theoutsole 405, as well as anterior edges of the sling rand portion 403,i.e., distal most edges from a center of the sling rand portion 403, mayhave complementary shapes to provide appropriate protection and supportfor the upper and a heel of a foot disposed in the shoe.

The medial portion 404 extends in the medial direction from the outsoleportion 405 from a heel portion to a toe portion of the outsole portion405. The medial portion 404 may extend in the anterior direction beyondan area of the outsole portion 405 corresponding to a ball of a footdisposed in the shoe. The shape of the medial portion 404 providesprotection and support for an arch of the upper of the shoe and an archof a foot disposed in the shoe. Further, the medial portion 404 isfoldable and disposable along a medial side of the upper and the shoefrom the outsole portion 405. The medial portion 404 may extend from theheel portion of the outsole portion 405, along a medial side of theoutsole portion 405, to a notch 407 formed in the outsole portion 405.The notch 407 may be only a groove in a portion of a top of the outsoleportion 405 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, i.e., the groove extending intobut not completely through the outsole portion 405 such that the notch407 is not present in the bottom of the shoe wrap as shown in FIG. 5, orthe notch 407 may extend completely through the outsole portion 405 toprovide independent folding or disposing of the medial portion 404 andthe edge of a toe portion of the outsole portion 405. The notch 407 mayextend from the folding line 406 to the edge of the shoe wrap 400. Ifthe notch 407 is a groove extending into but not completely through theoutsole portion 405, the notch 407 provides for increased flexibilitydue to the decreased thickness of the outsole portion 405 at the notch407 but not independent folding of the medial portion 404 and the edgeof the toe portion of the outsole portion 405. Further, the outsoleportion as shown in FIG. 5 may have no tread or may have tread formedtherein.

During construction of a shoe including the shoe wrap 400, the toe randportion 401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, andthe medial portion 404 may be folded up sides of the upper of the mainbody of the shoe along folding line 406. Upon folding of the toe randportion 401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, andthe medial portion 404, the shoe wrap 400 may change from the generallyplanar shape as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to a shape appropriate for one ofvarious shoe designs according to aspects of the present disclosure. Forexample, the shapes of the toe rand portion 401, the heel rand portion402, the sling rand portion 403, and the medial portion 404, and thefolding line 406 may be arranged such that, when folded about a mainbody of the shoe, the shoe wrap 400 may support a shape of a low,medium, or high tension climbing shoe. For example, upon folding of thetoe rand portion 401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion403, and the medial portion 404, the outsole portion 405 of the shoewrap 400 may be curved in accordance with a low, medium, or high tensionclimbing shoe.

Further, the toe portion of the outsole portion 405 of the shoe wrap 400may be shaped to include a connecting edge of sufficient width and shapeto complement and correspond to the adjacent edge of the toe randportion 401. For example, the connecting edge of the toe portion of theoutsole portion 405 may have a width equal to or almost equal to thelength of the notch 407 of the outsole portion 405. One of the adjacentedge of the toe rand portion 401 and the connecting edge of the toeportion of the outsole portion 405, upon construction of the shoe, maybe disposed over or overlap the other of the adjacent edge of the toerand portion 401 and the connecting edge of the toe portion of theoutsole portion 405 to provide a continuous coverage of the upper inthat region of the toe box of the upper, i.e., near the connectionbetween the insole/midsole and the upper in the toe box.

The folding line 406 may be a scored line in the top surface of the shoewrap 400 in the shape of a sole of a shoe to make folding easier andmore consistent, may be a marked line to indicate where a fold is to bemade, or may be theoretical and understood to be where a main body of ashoe is placed during construction of the shoe.

Although the shoe wrap 400 may have different shapes and sizes, the shoewrap 400 may, in general, be about 15 to 22 inches long from the distalportion of the toe rand portion 401 to a farthest edge of the sling randportion 403 when disposed generally flatly as shown in FIG. 4. Theoutsole portion 405 may be about 8 to 12 inches long from a toe area toa heel area of the outsole portion 405. However, aspects need not belimited thereto such that the outsole portion 405 may be shorter orlonger for various sizes of shoes. For example, the outsole portion 405may be 3 to 8 inches or 12 to 15 inches long. The widest portion of theoutsole portion 405 may be 2.5 to 5 inches wide at a portioncorresponding to a ball of a foot disposed in a shoe having the shoewrap 400. Portions of the outsole corresponding to an arch and/or a heelof a foot disposed in a shoe having the shoe wrap 400 may be narrowerthan the widest portion of the outsole portion 405. For example, theportions corresponding to the arch and/or the heel may be about 1 to 3inches wide.

As described herein, the distal end of the toe rand portion 401 mayextend in the lateral direction beyond the extent to which otherportions of the toe rand portion 401 extend; for example, the distal endof the toe rand portion 401 may extend in a lateral direction 1 to 2inches beyond the extent to which the portion of the toe rand portion401 connected to the outsole portion 405 extends. The toe rand portion401 may be 10 to 18 inches long from the distal end to a portionconnected to the heel portion of the outsole portion 405. And, the toerand portion 401 may be 0.5 to 3 inches wide, for example, about 1 to 2inches wide.

The heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 may each be 0.5to 4 inches long and may each be 4 to 10 inches wide. For example, theheel rand portion 402 may be about 1 inch long in a posterior-anteriordirection, and may be about 5 inches wide in a medial-lateral direction,and the sling rand portion 403 may be about 1 inch long in aposterior-anterior direction, and may be about 9 inches wide in amedial-lateral direction.

The medial portion 404 may be about 4 to 12 inches long in aposterior-anterior direction, and may be about 0.5 to 4 inches wide in amedial-lateral direction. For example, in the heel portion of theoutsole portion 405, the medial portion 404 may be the widest and maybe, for example, 2 inches wide. The medial portion 404 may be less widenearer to the notch 407, and may be, for example, about 1 inch wide.

Portions described herein as connecting portions and beveled portionsmay be about 0.1 to 1 inch in width. For example, connecting edges andbevels may be about 0.25 inches in width. Similarly, the notch 407 maybe about 0.1 to 1 inch long, for example, the notch 407 may be about0.25 inches long.

Although shown as an integral, one-piece shoe wrap 400, aspects need notbe limited thereto. For example, the shoe wrap 400 may include a firstshoe wrap portion and a second shoe wrap portion to be joined togetherbefore applying to an upper to form an integral shoe wrap. For example,the first shoe wrap portion may include the outsole portion 405 and asecond shoe wrap portion may include the toe rand portion 401, the heelrand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, and the medial portion404. The first shoe wrap portion and the second shoe wrap portion may bejoined along the folding line 406 or close thereto for form the singleshoe wrap. For example, in such case, each of the first shoe wrapportion and the second shoe wrap portion may include additional edges,similar to the edge of the toe portion of the outsole 405 between thetoe rand portion 401 and the notch 407 as described herein, forconnecting the first shoe wrap portion and the second shoe wrap portion.Similarly, the second shoe wrap portion may include individual pieces.For example, the toe rand portion 401 and the medial portion 404 may beone piece and the heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403may be another piece. Or, one or more of each of the toe rand portion401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, the medialportion 404, and the outsole portion 405 may be individual piecesconnectable with the others to construct the shoe wrap 400 before beingapplied to an upper or main body.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, a shoe wrap 600 includes a toe randportion 601, a heel rand portion 602, a sling rand portion 603, a medialportion 604, and an outsole portion 605, and a notch 607. The shoe wrap600 is formed to correspond to a right shoe to correspond to a rightfoot of a wearer. Although only a shoe wrap for a right shoe is shown,aspects need not be limited thereto such that aspects of the presentdisclosure may be applied to a left shoe arranged to correspond to aleft foot of a wearer. The shoe wrap 600 includes portions similar tothose describe elsewhere herein, and such features described withrespect to FIG. 6 and the shoe wrap 600 may be individually orseparately combined with any features described with respect to anyother figure or shoe wrap described herein.

The shoe wrap 600 includes bevels 606, 608, and 609. The bevels 606,608, and 609 may be portions of the shoe wrap 600 that are sloping orrelatively thinner other portions of the shoe wrap 600. For example, theoutsole portion 605 includes a bevel 606 about the lateral, heel, andmedial edges of the outsole portion 605. The bevel 606 may slope down toget thinner farther away from the outsole portion 605. Such bevel 606provides for easier folding of the first toe rand portion 601, the heelrand portion 602, the sling rand portion 603, and the medial portion 604during construction of a shoe.

The toe rand portion 601 includes the bevel 608, and the medial portion604 includes the bevel 609. The bevel 608 of the toe rand portion 601extends in an anterior direction from a heel portion of the outsole 605along the edge of the toe rand portion 601 and may extend for a portionof the length of the toe rand portion 601. For example, the bevel 608may extend ¼, ⅓, ½, of the length of the toe rand portion 601 or mayextend the entire length of the toe rand portion 601. The bevel 609 ofthe medial portion 604 extends in an anterior direction from a heelportion of the outsole 605 along the edge of the medial portion 604 andmay extend for a portion of the length of the medial portion 604. Forexample, the bevel 609 may extend ¼, ⅓, ½, of the length of the medialportion 604 or may extend the entire length of the medial portion 604.The bevels 608 and 609 may slope toward the edges of the toe randportion 601 and the medial portion 604, i.e., the edges of the toe randportion 601 and the medial portion 604 decrease in thickness so as to bethinner than other portions of the toe rand portion 601 and the medialportion 604, such that transitions between the upper and the toe randportion 601 and the medial portion 604 are smoother than without thebevels 608 and 609, respectively.

Further, although not shown, other portions of the shoe wrap 600 mayinclude bevels. For example, one or more of edges of one or more of theheel rand portion 602 and the sling rand portion 603 may include bevelsto provide improved fit and comfort of the heel cup of the shoe.Further, the toe portion of the outsole 605 from the toe rand portion601 to the notch 607 may include a bevel and the entire outsole 605 mayinclude a bevel disposed about a periphery of the outsole 605. And, oneor more of the edges of one or more of the toe rand portion 601, theheel rand portion 602, the sling rand portion 603, the medial portion604, the outsole portion 605, and the notch 607 may include a bevel suchthat each of the edges of each of the toe rand portion 601, the heelrand portion 602, the sling rand portion 603, the medial portion 604,and the outsole portion 605, and the notch 607 includes a bevel.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. The shoe wrap 700 is formed to correspond to a right shoe tocorrespond to a right foot of a wearer. Although only a shoe wrap for aright shoe is shown, aspects need not be limited thereto such thataspects of the present disclosure may be applied to a left shoe arrangedto correspond to a left foot of a wearer. The shoe wrap 700 includesportions similar to those describe elsewhere herein, and such featuresdescribed with respect to FIG. 7 and the shoe wrap 700 may beindividually or separately combined with any features described withrespect to any other figure or shoe wrap described herein.

As shown in FIG. 7, a shoe wrap 700 includes a toe rand portion 701, aheel rand portion 702, a sling rand portion 703, a medial portion 704,and an outsole portion 705. The outsole portion 705 does not include anotch according aspects of the present disclosure.

The heel rand portion 702 and the sling rand portion 703 extend in aposterior direction from a heel portion of the outsole 705 as shown inFIG. 7. Further, each of the heel rand portion 702 and the sling randportion 703 extend in lateral and medial directions, i.e., to theoutside and to the inside with respect to a foot. The heel rand portion702 may extend farther in the lateral and medial directions than thesling rand portion 703 such that, when the shoe wrap 700 is wrappedabout a main body of a shoe, the heel rand portion 702 may extend in theanterior direction farther than the sling rand portion 703 extends inthe anterior direction. Taken together and individually, the heel randportion 702 and the sling rand portion 703 may be of a generaltrapezoidal shape having the long base disposed closer to the outsoleportion 705. Although medial and lateral sides of the heel rand portion702 and the sling rand portion 703 may be generally be symmetric,aspects need not be limited thereto such that at least one of the medialand lateral side of at least one of the heel rand portion 702 and thesling rand portion 703 may have a different shape or length in themedial and/or lateral directions. For example, as shown in FIG. 8,below, the medial side of the heel rand portion 802 may have a truncatedcorner portion instead of a rounded corner portion as in the lateralside of the heel rand portion 802.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate a method for manufacturing a shoeaccording to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 8, amain body 810 of a shoe is disposed on a shoe wrap 800. The shoe wrap800, as shown in FIG. 8, is an integral, one piece shoe wrap 800. If anyof the various portions of the shoe wrap 800 are separate, the portionsof the shoe wrap 800 are adhered or stitched together to form anintegral shoe wrap 800 before applying any portion of the shoe wrap tothe main body 810. The shoe wrap 800 and the main body 810 are formed tocorrespond to a right shoe to correspond to a right foot of a wearer.Although only a shoe wrap and a main body for a right shoe is shown,aspects need not be limited thereto such that aspects of the presentdisclosure may be applied to a left shoe arranged to correspond to aleft foot of a wearer. The main body 810 may be manufactured accordingto any method and may include at least an upper. The shoe wrap 800includes a toe rand portion 801, a heel rand portion 802, a sling randportion 803, a medial portion 804, and an outsole portion. The outsoleportion of the shoe wrap 800 may perform as an insole, midsole, oroutsole of the resultant shoe.

The main body 810 of the shoe is disposed on the outsole portion of theshoe wrap 800 and may be aligned on the outsole portion of the shoe wrap800 with a folding line or bevel on the outsole portion of the shoe wrap800. Further, adhesive may be disposed on the insole and/or the midsoleof the main body 810 or on a bottom portion of the main body 810 and/oron the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 800 such that adhesive isdisposed between the main body 810 and the shoe wrap 800. Additionally,or separately without adhesives, the main body 810 and the shoe wrap 800may be stitched together.

In Operation S820, the heel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion803 are folded up the back of the main body 810 of the shoe. InOperation S830, lateral and medial portions of the heel rand portion 802are disposed along lateral and medial sides of the main body 810,respectively. In Operation S840, lateral and medial portions of thesling rand portion 803 are disposed along lateral and medial sides ofthe main body 810, respectively. Adhesives may be applied and/orstitches may be made to secure the heel rand portion 802 and the slingrand portion 803 to the main body 810 at each of one or more of theOperations S820, S830, and S840 or adhesives may be applied and/orstitches may be made before and/or after all of the Operations S820,S830, and S840. Further, according to aspects of the present disclosure,the order Operations S830 and S840 may be determined according tovarious factors, for example, the respective sizes of the heel randportion 802 and the sling rand portion 803, the stiffness or flexibilityof the resultant heel cup of the shoe, size of the heel cup, etc.

In Operation S850 in FIG. 9, the toe rand portion 801 is folded up thelateral side of the main body 810. Here, the toe rand portion 801 isfolded up the lateral side of the main body 810 to cover portions of theheel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion 803. However, aspectsneed not be limited thereto such that the toe rand portion 801 may befolded up the lateral side of the main body 810 before the heel randportion 802 and the sling rand portion 803 are folded along the lateralside of the main body 810 so that the heel rand portion 802 and thesling rand portion 803 cover a portion of the toe rand portion 801.Adhesives may be applied and/or stitches may be made to secure the toerand portion 801 to the main body 810 before and/or after OperationS850.

In Operation S860 in FIG. 10, the toe rand portion 801 is folded aboutan anterior portion of the main body 810 of the shoe. And, in OperationS870, the medial portion 804 is folded up the medial side of the mainbody 810 so as to cover at least a portion of the toe rand portion 801,the heel rand portion 802, and/or the sling rand portion 803. However,aspects need not be limited thereto such that the medial portion 804 maybe folded up the medial side of the main body 810 before the heel randportion 802 and the sling rand portion 803 are folded along the medialside of the main body 810 so that the heel rand portion 802 and thesling rand portion 803 cover a portion of the toe rand portion 804.Further, the medial portion 804 may be folded up the medial side of themain body 810 before the toe rand portion 801 is folded about theanterior end of the main body 810 such that the toe rand portion 801 maycover a portion of the medial portion 804. Adhesives may be appliedand/or stitches may be made to secure the toe rand portion 801 and themedial portion 804 to the main body 810 at each of the Operations S860and S870 or adhesives may be applied and/or stitches may be made beforeand/or after all of the Operations S860 and S870.

Although described herein as adhesives and stitches used to secure theshoe wrap to the main body of the shoe, aspects need not be limitedthereto such that adhesives may be applied and stitches may be formed tosecure at least portions of the shoe wrap to other portions of the shoewrap. For example, for securing the toe rand portion 801 to the medialportion 804 and/or the connecting edge of the toe portion of the outsoleportion of the shoe wrap, adhesives and/or stitches may be used.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. The shoe wrap 1100 is formed to correspond to a right shoeto correspond to a right foot of a wearer. Although only a shoe wrap fora right shoe is shown, aspects need not be limited thereto such thataspects of the present disclosure may be applied to a left shoe arrangedto correspond to a left foot of a wearer. The shoe wrap 1100 includesportions similar to those describe elsewhere herein, and such featuresdescribed with respect to FIG. 11 and the shoe wrap 1100 may beindividually or separately combined with any features described withrespect to any other figure or shoe wrap described herein.

As shown in FIG. 11, a shoe wrap 1100 includes a toe rand portion 1101,a heel rand portion 1102, a medial portion 1104, an outsole portion1105, and a notch 1107.

The heel rand portion 1102 extends in a posterior direction from a heelportion of the outsole 1105 as shown in FIG. 11. Further, the heel randportion 1102 extends in lateral and medial directions, i.e., to theoutside and to the inside with respect to a foot. The heel rand portion1102 is similar to the heel rand portions and the sling rand portions asdescribed herein but is one piece instead of two or more. The heel randportion 1102 may be folded up the heel portion of a main body of a shoeand may extend along at least a portion of each of the lateral andmedial sides of the main body of the shoe. The heel rand portion 1102may be of a general trapezoidal shape having the long base disposed awayfrom the outsole portion 1105, as shown in FIG. 11, or closer to theoutsole portion 1105.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents

1. A shoe wrap for a shoe, the shoe wrap comprising: an outsole portionhaving a toe portion disposed at an anterior end of the outsole portion;a toe rand portion at least partially connected to the outsole portionat a lateral side of the outsole portion, the toe rand portion extendingin an anterior direction beyond the toe portion of the outsole portion;a medial portion connected to a medial side of the outsole portion; anda heel rand portion connected to a heel portion of the outsole portion.2. The shoe wrap of claim 1, further comprising: a sling rand portionconnected to the heel rand portion.
 3. The shoe wrap of claim 2, whereinthe sling rand portion extends farther in medial and lateral directionsthan the heel rand portion.
 4. The shoe wrap of claim 2, wherein theheel rand portion extends farther in medial and lateral directions thanthe sling rand portion.
 5. The shoe wrap of claim 1, wherein a distalend of the toe rand portion extends farther in a lateral directionbeyond the extent to which other portions of the toe rand portion extendin the lateral direction.
 6. The shoe wrap of claim 1, furthercomprising: a folding line disposed about a periphery of the outsoleportion.
 7. The shoe wrap of claim 1, wherein at least one of theoutsole, the toe rand portion, the medial portion, and the heel randportion comprises a bevel.
 8. The shoe wrap of claim 1, furthercomprising a notch disposed between an anterior end of the medialportion and the toe portion of the outsole portion.
 9. The shoe wrap ofclaim 1, wherein the heel rand portion has a trapezoidal shape having along base disposed away from the outsole portion.
 10. The shoe wrap ofclaim 2, wherein each of the heel rand portion and the sling randportion has a trapezoidal shape having a long base disposed away fromthe outsole portion.
 11. The shoe wrap of claim 2, wherein each of theheel rand portion and the sling rand portion has trapezoidal shapehaving a long base disposed toward the outsole portion.
 12. A shoecomprising the shoe wrap of claim
 1. 13. A method of manufacturing ashoe, the method comprising: disposing a main body on an outsole portionof a shoe wrap, the main body comprising at least an upper; folding atleast a heel rand portion of the shoe wrap up a back of the main body;and folding a toe rand portion of the shoe wrap about a toe box of themain body.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: foldinglateral and medial portions of the heel rand portion along lateral andmedial sides of the main body, respectively.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the folding of the toe rand portion further comprises foldingthe toe rand portion up a lateral side of the main body to cover atleast a portion of the lateral portion of the heel rand portion.
 16. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the folding at least the heel rand portionfurther comprises folding a sling rand portion of the shoe wrap up theback of the main body, and the method further comprises folding lateraland medial portion of the sling rand portion along lateral and medialsides of the main body.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:folding a medial portion of the shoe wrap up a medial side of the mainbody.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the folding the medial portionof the shoe wrap occurs before the folding the toe rand portion of theshoe wrap such that the toe rand portion of the shoe wrap at leastpartially covers a portion of the medial portion of the shoe wrap. 19.The method of claim 13, further comprising: connecting separate portionsof the shoe wrap to form an integral shoe wrap before applying anyportion of the shoe wrap to the main body.